One Shot, One Kill
At the end of the stone stairs, I spotted the torchlight.
The Inter-floor Zone.
The only place in the Tower that truly felt like a tower—damp and dimly lit with its stone interior.
But right now, it looked like paradise.
"Human! Back already?"
Even the grinning face of the Goblin Merchant felt welcoming.
I laid out my spoils under the light.
Not that I had a choice, but I'd killed a person.
Would've been nice if he'd been some notorious villain.
But no, just an ordinary face.
His eyes staring at me were still burned into my mind.
Still, the survivors had to keep going.
The goblin, oblivious to my thoughts, chuckled.
"Took down one, eh? Humans are turning into fine hunters these days."
Apparently, "fine hunter" meant something like a scumbag or murderer.
I started with the rifle.
Among the dead hunter's gear, this looked like the highest-end piece.
A Soviet-made rifle chambered in 7mm.
"It's got a suppressor."
Now this I was genuinely grateful for.
Well-maintained too—practically good to go as-is.
Honestly, in Tower Escape, it was just decent value for money...
But holding the real thing? Way too welcome.
The bulletproof vest, on the other hand, was trashed.
Pulling it out revealed it was all dented and battered from multiple hits.
Durability at its limit.
And the size was a bit big for me.
"How much if I sell this with the military uniform as a set?"
"I'll give you a generous 37 gold."
Depreciation's insane.
Still, I sold it without complaint.
No point lugging dead weight.
Might as well strip off the winter gear too.
Layers of clothes left me in plain stuff underneath.
This'd need a wash too.
"Got detergent?"
"13 gold. You know where the water comes from, right?"
Business here must make you rich quick.
"How about just new clothes?"
"Plenty of stock in human male sizes. This'll be 50 gold."
Yeah, not salvageable with a wash—might as well buy fresh.
A week's sweat'll do that.
The dead hunter had some gold, but...
As expected, barely any food.
Guess scavenging solo on 5F didn't appeal.
Food's scarce there anyway.
With most loot sold, I eyed the troll hide last.
Decent money, but nothing worth buying right now.
Still had about a week's rations left.
"...What grenades you got?"
"These frags are 150 gold each. Smoke grenades, 100."
Insane.
Two frags could buy a pistol.
But no better consumables, so I scraped together what I had and bought some.
"Healing potions?"
"Special price, 500 gold."
Special my ass.
Passed on that.
Potions weren't just good meds—they were miracle drugs, so yeah, pricey.
Instant cure for any wound.
I grabbed pistol ammo too, then zeroed the rifle.
It was sighted for the dead guy, so adjustments needed.
The Inter-floor Zone had a target range in the corner.
Bullets are precious... but gotta. How do you adjust the zero on this? Oh, dot sight—line it up here.
Pfft, shoo!
Blew through a whole precious mag but got it zeroed.
Function check too—rifle worked perfectly.
Catching my breath, I spotted a big tub in the corner.
Big enough for a person.
"Can I use this?"
"Rental? Just 3 gold."
Luckily, water was free.
Filled my canteen, then the tub.
Popped in the heart to slowly heat the water.
"Ooh..."
First bath in forever.
Scrubbed off the grime, stench gone.
Finally felt human.
Left arm fully recovered too.
Already down two floors.
The two deadliest floors in 7F done.
Two upper skills acquired—should get easier ahead.
But other hunters were the issue.
Lower floors meant more hunters.
Most wouldn't be top-tier, though.
Anyone could enter high floors.
Escaping intact? That's the trick.
Still, plenty to kill me.
Upper skills don't block bullets or revive you.
Can I really escape?
5F: factory complex with a train station attached.
High monster density, constant fights.
Glad for the intact rifle.
Straight exit exists, but tough.
Needs boss kill, plus competitors galore.
Factory loot alone's a fortune.
So, descent exit again.
Avoid factories, should be manageable.
Nothing worth grabbing on 5F—get down fast.
Straight 5F exit solo's impossible...
4F's pure luck, can't count on it.
Full escape probably 3F or 2F.
But 2F? Hell no.
Scum, randos, and hyenas from the whole Tower.
"Whew."
Refreshed from the bath, I bought extra canteens and filled 'em.
Click!
Loaded pistol into holster—prepped.
No safety still sketchy, but better than nothing.
Rifle felt unfamiliar yet reassuring in my hands.
"How much stay time left?"
"10 minutes, human."
"...See ya."
Left 10 minutes early.
Fwaah!
Decent drop spot, maybe straight escape possible.
But factory noise greeted me.
Screeech...
Dark abandoned factory.
Machines long dead, but guard golems dragged busted parts around.
Slow but tanky—hit weak points precisely or they don't die.
Of course, right here?
Thought I'd skirt factories—landed in one.
Familiar enough, though.
Since I was deep inside, scoped for loot...
Thick rectangular kit on a metal shelf.
The exact thing for 6F.
Standard strat: farm these here for 6F/7F runs.
Useless to me, though.
Come on... too much?
Factory zone, fine—but a thermal kit factory?
Nothing to grab.
Time to bail.
Steadied myself, heightened senses.
Chaotic, dark factory interior.
Perfect Sense and Shadow Walk.
Prime spot for both upper skills.
Factory layout alien...
But soon spotted Tower Escape similarities.
Map fidelity insane.
Tons of data—way better than 7F.
Over broken window, out—similar buildings everywhere.
Prime hunter bait, super risky.
Perfect Sense skill level has risen to 2.
Upper skills level up too?
Rifle felt awkward in hands.
Served active duty, but shooting? Meh.
Not confident.
Get to the outskirts fast.
Armed orcs patrolling factory edges.
Gunfire echoed often.
Bang, baaang!
5F's tight spaces—frequent scraps.
Limited movement forces fights.
Hated it.
But small map meant descent exit nearby.
There.
One of 5F's descent exits: sewer entrance.
Didn't rush.
Blind charge to exits ranks high in Tower Escape deaths.
And sure enough...
From shadows, calm scan: hunters lurking everywhere.
Five sealing the exit tight.
Anyone approaching turns into Swiss cheese.
Smoke grenade? Nah, they'll have frags.
Skip this one clean.
Headed elsewhere without hesitation.
But elsewhere? Swarming armed orcs.
Monster den central—tough entry.
Too risky banking on Shadow Walk.
Long haul then.
Hunted a hideout for the night.
Never crossed my mind in Tower Escape...
This map? No good spots.
Game never had you hole up a full day.
Tiny map, fixed paths—hide in obscure room corners at best.
Even that's risky.
Night movement? Night vision issue.
Other hunters with NVGs could null Shadow Walk.
Modern ones pack thermals too.
How'd I know? Researched for vids.
Pad runtime with trivia.
Circling outskirts for a spot...
Suddenly, Perfect Sense screamed danger.
Hm?
Skin-prickling sense—dodged instinctively.
Whipping head: faint reflection.
Sniper scope glint.
No experience, but gut said it.
From watchpost rooftop—classic sniper nest in game.
Shit!
Tower Escape's unfair infamy.
Snipers worst offenders.
Normal games: just shoot players.
Not here.
Miss angle? Sends patrol to last spot.
Pinpoint accuracy.
Big rounds punch high-end vests—one-shot.
Blinding reaction—peek and die.
Traps everywhere for loot recovery hell.
Top death cause—vets snipe 'em first.
Gonna lose it. Gotta deal quick.
Ducked blind spot on instinct...
Delay means patrol swarm.
Crisis maxed Perfect Sense.
Shhh...
Senses expanded wide.
Even wind crystal clear.
But post too far.
300m minimum.
One stab with dagger'd end it.
Why'd I spawn in a gun-toting world?
Then, mid-gripe—Perfect Sense info shifted.
No environmental change.
Spherical sense stretched toward post.
Wait... adjustable? Not just nearby?
Focused on rifle...
Sense rode barrel out.
Muzzle wind vivid.
Sharper than eyes.
Applicable to shooting.
This could work.
Groundless certainty hit.
No time anyway.
Patrol near post soon—sniper calls, game's over.
Pulled trusty empty tin can from before.
Whip!
Bang!
Hurled hard—bullet pierced dead center!
Pinpoint, as expected.
Thought it was scope glint.
Reload gap—rifle up.
Sense stretched beyond muzzle.
Local senses gone.
Just rifle, sniper, 300m between.
Thoughts accelerated, scope locked head.
Forgot breathing ages ago.
Trance-pull trigger.
Pfft!
Suppressor puff.
Tiny hole punched skull—clear as day.
Perfect Sense skill level has risen to 3.